Pipe clamp or coupling and lug units therefor



Sept. 30, 1958 1-. L. SMIITH 2,853,762

PIPE CLAMP 0R COUPLING AND LUG uurrs THEREFOR Filed Feb. '7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 la 30 a5 Z6 27 a 4/ 1; 40 l6 l /0 Y I I l 9 9 I Q INVENTOR. TEL FORD L. SMITH l2 ATTORNEY T. L. SMITH Sgpt. so, 1958' PIPE CLAMP 0R COUPLING AND LUG UNITS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 7. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Z'ELFORD LSM/TH a flm,

ATTOR/VE Y United States Patent PIPE CLAMP OR COUPLING AND LUG UNITS THEREFOR Telford L. Smith, South San Francisca, Calif. Application February 7, 1957, Serial No. 638,764

7 Claims. (Cl. 24-279 This invention relates to improvements in pipe repair clamps and pipe couplings of the type in which malleable or flexible metal bands are wrapped around the pipe like a sleeve, fitted at the ends with clamping lugs, and clamped tightly in place byv bolts that pass through the lugs.

The flexible metal band type of pipe repair clamp has been widely adopted because of its low cost, light weight, and because its flexibility enables it to equalize the pressure on the gasket and on the pipe. It is adaptable to many conditions; it can be made up in the field by cutting a strip of copper or stainless steel from a stock roll and then providing the strip ends with lugs and bolts. In atypical prior-art installation, a single copper strip was held together around the pipe by a single pair of lugs attached to the ends of the strip and connected together by bolts. The gasket, which may also be cut from stock material, was used only over the actual break in the pipe. With this type of clamp, practically any size of pipe can be accommodated by cutting the flexible metal bands and gaskets to size from stock strips without having to keep a variety of sizes of castings on hand, and one type of lug can be used, whatever the size.

The present invention is an improvement on the pipe clamp or coupling shown in the application Serial No. 417,588 filed March 22, 1954. That device utilizes a novel form of lug with a pivoting action which enables the bolts to float freely during all positions of tightening, thus eliminating possible bending of these bolts due to imposition of large forces normal to their longitudinal axis. This pivoting action also made it possible to use large bolt openings that prevented any binding action between the lugs and the bolts. The novel pivot structure resulted in the proper alignment of the bolts and lugs and in the maintenance of that alignment at all times. The bolts float freely in the lugs, and the band is always pressed tightly around the pipe and the gasket. The lugs and bolts are tangent to the pipe and the band bears closely. That invention also incorporated a wedge member for anchoring the lugs to the ends of the malleable bands, and the present invention relates principally to an improvement in this anchoring structure, including the wedge. The wedge means is preferably made up in long strips providing a series of successive wedges correctly spaced and joined together at weakened places where they can be broken so that at the time of installation the correct number of wedges can be broken 01f as a strip.

In the present invention, the wedges are provided with a locking portion that cooperates with a corresponding locking portion on the lugs to lock the flexible metal hand between the lugs and the wedge and prevent its slippage, thus permitting higher band tensions to be developed, increasing the pressure-holding capability of the device. This structure gives increased economy by reducing the cost of manufacturing the wedges, by reducing the time it takes to place the wedges in the lugs, and by making it easier to handle the required parts. It also makes it easier to store and to transport the wedges.

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The invention also gives the lugs and wedges a much firmer hold on the malleable band and prevents it from coming loose.

One object, therefore, of the invention is to provide an improved wedge structure for a malleable-band or flexible metal band type of clamp.

Another object of the invention is to provide interlock means between the wedge, the lug, and the malleable band to prevent the malleable band from slipping out from between the wedges and lugs in an installed pipe clamp.

Another object of the invention is to add greatly to the economies and efliciency of clamps employing flexible metal bands.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof given in accordance with 35 U. S. C. 112. r

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in end elevation of a clamp-coupling embodying the present invention, shown installed around a pipe, the pipe being illustrated in section. The clampcoupling here illustrated includes two flexible metal strips and two pairs of lugs.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the clamp-coupling of Fig. 1, with the ends of the pipe broken off to conserve space.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the clamp-coupling of Fig. 1, with the ends of the pipe broken oif.

Fig. 4 is a view in end elevation and in section similar to Fig. 1 of a modified form of pipe repair clamp, also embodying the present invention in which one strip encircles the pipe and only one pair of lugs is used.

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation and in section taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 7 and shown on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is an exploded view in perspective of a lug, a wedge unit and an end portion of the malleable band before assembly.

I Fig. 7 is an enlarged view partly in section of a portion of Fig. 1 showing the position of the right-hand lugs at the end of the tightening operation.

Fig. 8 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 7 but showing the lugs at the beginning of the tightening operation.

Fig. 9 is a view in section through one lug taken along the line 9-9 in Fig. 2 with the bolt, wedge, and malleable band all removed.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged view in perspective of a portion of the malleable band after it has been removed from a clamp, showing the depression made by the locking means on the lug and the wedge.

Fig. 11 is a view in perspective of a portion of a wedge block, shown from the rear and upside down as compared with the showing in Fig. 6.

Two forms of the invention are shown. The clampcoupling 10 shown in Figs. 1 to 3 incorporates two semi circular flexible metal bands 11, 12, each of which has one gasket 13 or 14, lying against its inner surface and adapted to mate with the other gasket 14 or 13. A strip 15 of flexible metal is embedded in a recess 16 in each gasket 13, 14 and prevents damage to its gasket during the clamp-tightening operation. The gaskets 13, 14 have tapered ends 17, 18, which mate, so that when the clamp coupling 10 is assembled there is in effect a unitary gasket sealing around the whole circumference of the pipe or pipes 19. In this form of the invention, the bands 11, 12 are normally pie-shaped at the factory and the gaskets 13, 14 cemented to the bands 11, 12, the wear strips 15 already being bonded to the gaskets in the appropriate recesses 16.

-; metal to a desired length, somewhat longer than the circumfereuce of the pipe 22, so that it completely or substanti'ally completely encircles "the" pipe 22" and its ends" The bolts 32 pass through openings34 (see Figs. 7 a'nd'.9)

in the lugs 3'0, 3,1,1 which. maybe made from bronze, iron, steel, or other sui'tt'tble metal; These lugs maybe adapted togtake anynurnber of bolts .32. from one up, dependi'ng on the length-of thieTpo'rtionl, oflpipe 19f or .22" to "be clamped. around. .Inthe' d'rawing,.:t'wo bolt openings 34' are shownin eachl'ug'by 'way of example,but"not'. as. limitation. The lug units may be made in: series .to have anynumberof boltsdesired., 3 i

The logs 30,731. both have curvedclaws' or fingers35, 36 extending out lfromla bodyportion37, and fadepend ing t'ange'ntial flanges's adjacent theflends 26, 27. of the malleable strip; The claws 3'5; 36' are identical except at. their outer ends. .The fingers 36 of, the lower lu g 31' terminate in-a concave or swivel socket 4'0; whil'e'the fingerss'sof theupper lug 3'0 terminatein a convex rounded ball-like .tip 41 that can pivot. rotatablyin'the socket 40 when the .lugs 30, 31 are assembled together. The importantrotativepivot'action obtained by this connectionand shown somewhat by Figs. Tand 8 isfvery importanhand. is described and claimed fully in' the ,ap pli'catibn...heretofore referred to, .Serial No; 417,588.

When thenuts. 33 aretightened on the bolts 32,- the lugs 30,31 rotate relative to each other against the -ba11'"41- sockety4'tl'combination, and the rotative forceactsagainst the tendency of the bolts 32 to bend; so it keeps them perfectly straight at all times. Also, this rotation. causes thetangential flange 38 of each lug 30,31 to 'movein against the band 11, 12' or the band 21'. and force! the. bands radially toward the .pipe wall, sothat very point wherethe tightening of the bolts 32 wouldllnot-of itself exert .pressure on. the band is tightened. directly by.

they are forced in radially toward the pipe bythe pivoting of. the .fingers 35, 36, the flange face-;45 bears against a substantial area. of the band 11, 12 or-2 1 instead of having. just a point in line contact at the outboard end 44.; The sloping of the outer face 46' or the tangentialflange 38 is complementary to; the wedge structure. that,

will berdiscussed in a moment. 7 The boltopening 34 through.

V the lug 30 is smallernear the bodys outer face 47 than on the inner side48. Thesmaller portion 49 of the opening 34' may be square or-- other polygonal shape to accommodate and key the shank of. the carriage bolt 32, and the remainder oftheropening In 'prior art devices, the malleagle band was usually crimped into milled slots in the lugs. In my preceding invention, however, Serial No. 417,588, there was no milled slot, but instead the lug body 37 was provided with depending-detents or teeth 51 spaced at a substantially constant distance from the outer face 46 of the tangential flange 38, one tooth 51 being; located on each side of each bolt opening 34 and, therefore, one on each side of each finger 35 or 36. The inner face 52 of each tooth 51 slopes slightly so that the distance between the surfaces 46 and52 is greatest atthe openend and smallest'at the closed end and is. smoothly tapered in between. These parts can, therefore, be formed by casting and no-.rfiilling is necessary or desirable.

When the ends '26, 27 of the bands 11, 12 or 21 are shaped as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, with a short bent-out radial portion 53 and a bent back, generally tangential portion 54,..the portion 54. can be made to. l'ie in. between the; outer face '46 of the generally tangential flangev 38andthe" faces 52 of. the teeth: 51.. The outboard end- 424 of the tangential-flanges 38fa'buts theradial portion 53,. and the inner. face 45 abuts the outer face of the band,,.so-

that the tangential flange 38 is surrounded and contacted on three sides by the band 11, 12 or 21. I a

In the prior art, the. holdingv of the. band was. comfplet'ed by inserting a series of wedgesSS to hold. the band tightly 'againstthe: tangential flange 38,- one wedge being. used for each bolt opening. 34. and for each claw 35 or. 36f These'wedges 55 resemble'closely what is shown. in. the drawing; being. a slightly tapered block of bronze or other'strongi metal provided with a pair of-guidetit's 56 that'lare adapted to. space the wedge 55 in exact longi tudnial relation with respect. to the teeth 51 by contacting;

the radial edges. 57 of the teeth 51. closestto' the bolt' opening. (see Fig. 5).

wedges 55 .are driven in with a hammer or other means, wed'ging the band ends 26 or 27 and the lug 30-101: 31-: firmly together. Preferably, the wedges 55 ane-rnade a unitary block-611i of successive wedges-55,.- alljoined gether. or, .in' other words, a longstrip'60- pnovided with p roble'm. whateven sometime-$.51 the past, however, the band tended to slip out. from between t'he Wedge '55 and; flange 38,.espercially if it was not driven tightly enough,for the malleable metalwas hard such as stainless steel. In the present invent on, I provide a considerable improvement over thisstructure, enabling more rapid assembly of the clamp,

together with a surer holding of the clamped malleable member. 7 V v a I provide a projecting detent 62' (see Figs. 5 and 6) in the flange 38adjacent its closed end and centeredsubstamtially centrally with respect to the bolt opening'34;v i. e.,.'

substantially opposite and in line with its finger 35 or 3'6.

Tocooperate with this detent, I provide a recess, 63 in z each.wedge55 somewhat greater in size and preferably 34- is preferably enlarged. to prevent anyrbi nding; of. the

bolts as the lugs. rotate. of. each. lug 30,31 preferably curved convexly, and-this structure aidsi rt holdingthe-bolts32 in a straight posh tion and not exertiiig bending pressures upon them; Pref? the bolts are fully tightened;

The outer face 47 of the body smoothly cuton a curve; ,Since theteetlr 51 and tits 56" provide exact alignment of the wdg'es 55', thereis no problem of aligning the detent 62 with the recess 63*. Now

when the j wedge '55;Tisdriven in by hammer or other means, ;prior to tightening; the lugs together (see. Fig.8),

the malleable band :11, 12.01 .21 islclamped betweerr the wedge'recess 63; and .the'lug. detent 62', deforming. it, with.

the malleablememberonceitis installed, and at thesame.

time the: driving. of; the wedge into it and the efiect ofithea With thebandheld in. its.-proper positron relative to the. lugs tangential flange 38g 1the.

detent-recess combination is to form a very'tight clamp preventing any withdrawal of the band from betweenthe wedge and the lug. Furthermore, the ends of the teeth 51 are upset over the wedges, by hammer or otherwise, so that there is no chance for the wedges to come out.

It will thus be recognized that I have improved my former invention by providing for quicker assembly of the clamp and for a greater sureness in retaining the malleable band in place. 7 g p g To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

1. In a clamp for pipe and the like, at least one flexible metal band with its opposite ends bent back, a pair of lugs for each band, each adapted to engage one said bentback end and conform said band around said pipe, and a bolt extending between each adjacent pair of asid lugs, each lug having a gripping portion which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bolt to engage said bent-back band at points radially and axially spaced from said bolt, and a Wedge-engaging portion spaced between said bolt and said gripping portion; and a wedge between said wedge-engaging portion and said bent-back end forcing said bent-back end into tight engagement with said gripping portion, said gripping portion and said wedge having generally matching projections and recesses between which portions of said bent-back ends are sandwiched and deformed.

2. In a pipe clamp of the type employing one or more strips of malleable metal wrapped around the pipe and having bent end portions and pairs of mating lugs for securing adjacent meeting ends of said malleable metal strips, each said lug having a main body portion with at least one bolt opening therethrough, the improvement wherein each said lug has a flange projecting from said main body portion, and generally tangential to the adjacent portion of said strip which is wrapped around the pipe, the end of said strip being bent therearound, and wedge-holding means spaced from said flange, and wedge means between said wedge-holding means and said flange sandwiching said strip end between it and said flange, said flange and said wedge means having corresponding projecting portions and recessed portions between which the sandwiched strip end is deformed for tighter seizure.

3. In a clamp for tightening a flexible band having bent-back spaced-apart ends about an object, and a plurality of lugs each adapted to engage one of said bentback ends, a bolt extending between each adjacent pair of said lugs, each of said lugs having a gripping portion which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bolt so that it engages one of the bent-back end portions of said band at points radially and axially spaced from said bolt, and a wedge-engaging portion spaced between said bolt and said gripping portion, each of said gripping portions having a surface thereof facing a surface of each of said wedge-engaging portions, each of said gripping portions having a band-engaging projection on said facing surface adjacent its inboard end; and a wedge between each of said wedge-engaging portions and said bent-back end forcing said bent-back end into tight engagement with each of said gripping portions, said wedge having recesses in one surface that faces said gripping portion of each lug, each of said recesses being slightly larger than and generally mating with a corresponding one of said projections, so that when said wedge is driven into place a portion of said bent-back ends is deformed to provide a detent-like portion sandwiched between said lug gripping portion and said wedge, so as to hold said band tightly in place.

4. In a clamp for tightening a flexible band having bent-back spaced-apart end portions about an object, in which a plurality of lugs are each adapted to engage one of said bent-back ends, with a bolt extending between each adjacent pair of said lugs,the improvement comprising a gripping portion which on each lug extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bolt so that it engages the bent-backend 'of said band at points radially and axially spaced from said bolt, the face of said gripping portion nearer said bolt having a'plurality of basal projections, and series of spaced wedge-engaging and wedge-locking portions on each lug spaced between said bolt and said gripping portion; and a wedge block driven between said wedge-engaging portion and said bent-back end and having a plurality of recesses, one located opposite each said basal projection, said wedge block forcing said bent-back end into tight engagement with said gripping portion, portions of said bent-back end being formed into detent-like configurations by said projections and recesses, the outer ends of said wedge-engaging and wedge-locking portions being upset over said wedge to lock said wedge firmly in place.

5. In a pipe clamp of the type employing one or more flexible strips of metal wrapped around the pipe, the improvement comprising a pair of mating lugs for securing together adjacent meeting ends of said metal strips, each said lug having a main body portion adapted to extend outward from said pipe and having at least one bolt opening therethrough, a flange extending from the inner side of said main body portion and lying generally tangential to said strip and having projections from said inner side and said flange, and wedge-holding means comprising a plurality of detents depending from said main body portion at a spaced interval from said flange, bolt means for extending through said bolt openings between said pair of lugs, and wedge means adapted to fit in each lug in the space between said flange and said wedge-holding means to clamp an end of said strip between said wedge means and said flange, each said wedge means having a plurality of projections thereon adapted to engage said detents to prevent lengthwise displacement of said wedge, each said wedge means also having recesses adjacent one edge adapted to lie opposite said projections and deform the strip in between said projections and said recesses.

6. In a pipe clamp of the type employing one or more flexible strips of metal wrapped around the pipe, the improvement comprising a pair of mating lugs for securing together adjacent meeting ends of said metal strips, each said lug having a main body portion adapted to extend outward-from said pipe and having at least one bolt opening therethrough, a flange extending from one side of said main body portion and lying generally tangential to said strip, projections extending from said one side and said flange, and wedge-holding means comprising a plurality of detents extending from said main body portion at a spaced interval from said flange, bolt means for clamping said lugs together, and wedge means adapted to fit in each lug in the space between said flange and saidwedge-holding means to clamp an end of said strip between said wedge means and said flange, each said flange and wedge means having a corresponding plurality of matching projections and recesses thereon adapted to engage said strip between them.

7. In a pipe clamp of the type employing one or more flexible strips of metal wrapped around the pipe and having bent end portions, the improvement comprising a pair of mating lugs for securing adjacent meeting ends of said metal strips, each said lug having a main body portion with at least one bolt opening therethrough, a flange projecting from said main body portion, and generally tangential to the adjacent portion of said strip which is wrapped around the pipe, the bent end portion of said strip being positioned immediately adjacent the point of tangency, said flange having a plurality of projections close to said main body portion, wedge-holding means comprising a pair of teeth projecting from said 7 53 Body pontion on opposite: sides of said boltopening adsaid prdjecti cn's-ta dcferm'saids'trip therein'to', and bolt jacent andv spaced fromsaidflange, a Wedge block for meansadapted to -eitendthrbugh the bolt openings and each pair of teeth, having position-locating meansth'ere cl amp siaid' pair df lh'gs tb'getfier. on that mate with said teeth on said wedge-holding means 7 a Q s to positively locate said wedge block lengthwise of said 5 ReferencesqCitifin the file of this patent lugs, each: said block being a'dapted to fit in each lug in i the space between said flange and said wedge-holding UNITED STATES PATENTS means with the ends of said Wedge-holding means upset 732,309 Maishafl' June 30, 1903 thereove'r, each block having recesses adapted 'to. overlie 2,599,882 Adams June 10,1952 

